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Exotic Nudist Friends Promote NudismImagine going to a place where wearing clothing is
not required. A place where families can come
together and enjoy a day unlike any other. Indoor or
out, summer or snow, friends shed it all for a different
kind of living. A life free of crippling social
inhibitions with no need for repressive clothing.
Explore pure nudism to witness naturists practice what
they preach. Browse. Observe. Learn. Become part of this
growing lifestyle!

Quest for the Naturist
Despite the younger generation's apparent lack of
participation in naturism, it can't be said that the interest isn't there. The
August 1994 Woodstock reunion, for example, bears testimony to a genuine
willingness among the younger crowd to indulge in nude recreation. Media reports
over the last few years indicate that students on college campuses across the
nation have an urge to bare all; but if streaking and skinny-dipping have become
part and parcel of the college scene, why aren't the practitioners taking the
next step and joining established naturist groups?

The complaint of younger naturists is, of course, that when they do attend
established social nude gatherings they find few similarly-aged participants.
This can lead a younger person to wonder: "Is this naturism thing just for older
people? Am I the only one my age who is interested in naturism?" this measure of
doubt can undermine the enthusiasm that brings them to nude events.

The Missing Gen-Xers

By "younger
naturists," I refer to the 18-30 crowd, otherwise known to the media
as "Generation X." As a twenty-something naturist, I have had the feelings of
doubt and discomfort described above. This is no slight toward "older"
naturists; on the contrary, most established naturists go out of their way to be
accommodating to the younger set. But often people in their twenties are not
accustomed to socializing with people old enough to be their parents. To be a
part of nude recreation, one must feel a part of nude recreation.

The number of people under 30 at regional naturist gatherings is generally quite
small. N gets letters each year from disillusioned younger naturists who have
attended a gathering and felt left out or out of place. but imagine what could
be gained if suddenly 50, 60, or 100 18-to-30-year-olds showed up for a
gathering, and had such a good time that naturist gatherings became a "must" for
any younger person interested in nude recreation? Imagine these meetings being
infused with new life, stemming from new ideas and people with the time, energy
and youth to see them through.

The Need for Promotion

It's difficult to know how to appeal to people whose only idea of social nudism
may be a titillating stereotype of people "prancing" and "cavorting" and having
wild sex orgies around the "nudist colony." What's more, if organized naturism
is kept secret, it will not be an option for a younger person. To this end,
advertising and promotion of the ideals and benefits of naturism, including a
clear message that it is a nonsexual thing, are essential.

It's probably too idealistic at this point to hope for naturist information to
be posted on billboards or naturist commercials to be shown on prime time TV.
But the younger crowd needs to know that they don't have to wait 25 years for an
event like Woodstock to get naked among friends. There are ways of getting the
word out without ruffling too many feathers.
In dealing with a younger audience, the term nude recreation may be more
suitable than naturism. A small point, but one of powerful significance.
Naturism, to the uninitiated, may imply (correctly or incorrectly) an alternate
lifestyle--one that is, again, tied to that stereotype of the nudist colony.
Most Gen-Xers aren't looking for a change in lifestyle; they just want to cut
loose a bit when they have some free time.

A Question of Image

Naturism needs an updated image to appeal to a younger audience. Most readers
have probably seen the standard naturist promotional video, featuring lots of
families, children playing, and older couples lounging on the beach. Which of
these aspects is going to appeal to a 21-year-old college student, a 25-year-old
grad student, or a young engaged couple? Probably none.

So why not create a naturist promo video specifically tailored to this age
group? If people see others their age enjoying themselves sans clothing, they
might not feel like they are alone in their enjoyment of being nude. Just
letting young people know that this is a valid recreation option may generate
interest where there was none before.
With the smattering of student naturist groups, the clientele at some West Coast
beaches (especially the ones near colleges), the goings on at Woodstock '94, and
the strong European Gen-X support, thee is more than enough material for a
full-length video targeting the 18-30 year old naturist. So, naturist video
producers, there's a challenge for you. Break some new ground. How about a promo
video that actually contributes to the growth of nude recreation?
But having a hip, cutting edge Gen-X naturist video must be coupled with a
strong, effective marketing scheme. selling such a video through naturist
magazines and mail order catalogs or at a naturist store may make a little
money, but will defeat the real purpose of the video--attracting the
18-30-year-old people you'd like see become involved in naturism. to start with,
the video could be offered to student naturist groups, who will show it in
venues where it's more likely to reach the right audience.

But even before we get that far, first and foremost the video has to be
affordable. A video that costs $59.95 isn't going to appeal to too many younger
naturists, who are more than likely strapped for cash some if not most of the
time.
Some universities sponsor environmental expos during the school year. A booth or
exhibit at such a show might be the perfect way to introduce naturism--at least
achieving visibility and credibility if nothing else. Simply presenting naturism
in a positive light would go a long way toward not only dispelling erroneous
rumors up front. Other exhibits during the year could focus on the importance of
nude recreation to body acceptance (during a health and fitness week, for
example), or the role of social nudity as a freedom of expression right (during
a civil rights demonstration).

One Final Note

If there truly is a desire to increase the involvement and membership of the
18-30 age group, the national naturist and nudist organizations must start by
letting their members and affiliated organizations know this is a national
concern that must be kept on the agenda. Sad as it may sound, the very future of
naturism depends on having a solid base of young, energetic supporters to carry
the momentum of the older generation they will eventually replace.

The ideas I've outlined here are not exhaustive; there are many possibilities to
explore, and if we younger naturists put our heads together, we could come up
with quite a few. The foundation is already being laid, but a real push needs to
be implemented, coordinated, and supported to make this effort successful.

LEGAL
NOTE:
The naturist photo and video documentaries that we offer are legal in every city, every state and every county inside the United States. They are protected by the First Amendment and are not subject to local obscenity laws or ordinances. The depiction of adults and children nude in the visual media has enjoyed constitutional protection in the United States since 1958, when the Supreme Court vacated a Court of Appeals finding that Sunshine& Health magazine could be obscene (Sunshine Book Co. v. Summerfield, Postmaster General, 355 U.S. 372). The right to depict adults and children in innocent nude poses has been upheld without a pause for 41 years. In case after case, the Supreme Court and lower courts have always upheld the constitutionality of "nudity without more," specifically referring to the nudist depiction as a fully constitutional form of expression. Our website is widely visited in all of Asia, Europe, South America, Canada, Australia and Africa. The only exception may be countries where nudity of any kind is banned. Related Naturist Tags: Nudist Page Tags: Trapical, Tropic, Masks, Logo, Carnival, African American, Black, Dark, Friends, Nudist, Quest, Naturist, Nudism, Nudist, Friends, Promote